Well perforator



Dec- 3, 1940- w. BENDELER ETAL.

WELL PERFORATOR Filed April l1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l De 3, 1940 w. BENDr-:LER Erm. 2,223,439

WELL PERFORATOR J ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1940 Umrao STATES PMENT oFFIcE: N

v e n `.2,223,4:iaV I* l vOklahoma City,A Okla: Application April 11, 1940, Serial No. 329,182,l 1s claims. (c1. 1er-0.3)

This invention relates to improvements iny casing perforators, and. more` particularly, `but'` not by way of limitation, to a casing perforator for an oil well hole or the like.

In oil wells itis often desirable to perforate the well casing` atvariouselevations for tapping diierent oil bearing stratas and restoring the well to production. Furthermore, casing perforators are utilizedcfordetermining a. faulty cementing job in a well, to re-establish circulation'in frozen stringsfof` casing by providing channels through the casing, and providing channels in the well casing `and cement preparatory to acid treatment of a well. Heretofore, casing'perforators such as those vdisclosed in the prior patentsto Hardison, No. 650,318, Wood, No. 1,779,652 and Schull; Not-1,853,239, the perforating tool usuallycomprises a set of bowed or belly springs which have a tendency to drag against the `inner periphery of the well casing during lowering or removing oper-ation ofthe perforator.1Incases-of crooked `we11 holes, the

wellcasing is out of" alignment vand per-forators of this type can not -be'-utilized because the drag` of the bowed springs will'cause a jamming or freeze and prevent lowering ofthe perforator into the well hole.`

It is thereforeA an important object of this invention to providefacasing perforator capable of being easily lowered or removed from a well hole,y or'capable of insertion in smaller ordisaligned well casings due'tov elimination of any casing. Y

A further object ofthis` invention is to prodrag ofthe 'perforator elements against the vide a casing perforator having rotatable knife actuating means engaging the casing to cause rotation thereof, said means capable of contacting the casing at all times without any slippage.

An additional object of this inventionV is to provide a casing perforator capable of providing a more eicient and positive actuationV of a -pivotable knife by providing an efficient and rolling contact between the knife and the actuating means, said means being a knurled wheel to pre-v vent slippage.v 1 l A further object Aof this invention is to provide a casing perforator in which the cutting knife can be released more efciently because the actuatingl means lfor the knife is immediately moved out ofthe path of the knife upon a knocking loose or release action.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide a casing perforator having a floating collaradapted to actuate a trip assembly allowing positive settingA of the vcasing perforator in the well hole.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be evident from `the `following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings` which illustrate vone form of my invention.

Fig. 1` is a sectional view in vertical elevation of the perforating toolshown disposed in the well casing; Y Y Fig. 2 is a'fsimilar view showing the actuation of the Vknife for'fracturing the casing.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing full perforation vof the` well casing by the perforating tool. 1.Fig.',4 is an elevational view showing the jarring tools connected tothe lperforator body.

Fig.' 5 is a-view taken onv lines 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on lines 6--6` of lFig. 3.

The perforator provided lin this invention is capable `of cutting or punching outwardly` in comparatively great distances, and is useful` in situations-where it is desired `to perforate two strings of pipe or where the pipe or casing is cemented by abody of cementor thelike, and it is desired to perforate the cement aswell as the casing.

Referring to the dra-wings in` detail, and more particularlyto Figs. 1, 2 and 4,r the casing perforator herein .illustrated is` adapted to be lowered into the well casing 2 on a cable or Wire line 4 secured at the top `of the well to a reciprocating `walking beam orlany similar apparatus capable of producing a 'quick braking action or stopaction (notshown). The lower end of the 4 cableY 4 is connected to a straight vbar or stem 6 providing weight, and` adapted to receive a threaded socket securing the cable. The lower end .of the bar 6 is secured to a jar I 0, which in turn is `threaded to an upper neck portion II of the perforator. It-will be` apparent that the jarringtools can be of any conventional type to provide a jarring action `for assisting the cable in setting or releasing the perforator tool in the well casing 2. n

The casing @perforator'comprises a cylindrical body portion I2 having a recess- I4.` The recess is disposedl longitudinally of the body I2 and extends inwardly from one side of the body to a point approaching the opposite side of the body.

The upper portion of the recess I4 is formed with a smaller recess- I6 in which is anchored a stud or pin I8.

'A perforating knife 20 is `pivoted lon the pin I8 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth'.

-compressesf spring 48 (see Fig. 1).

Referring to Fig. 5 it is to be noted that the walls of the recess I4 are milled out or cut away to form a pair of diametrcally opposed grooves or cam slots 22 and 24. As is clearly apparent from Figs. 1 to 3, the grooves are of an irregular axial contour for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The inner face of recess I4 is provided with a cut away portion 26 for receiving a cam member 28 secured to the housing or body I2 by bolts 30. A wheel 32 is disposed in the recess I4 and is journalled on a stud or shaft 34 having its opposite ends disposed the grooves 22and 24 for guiding the floating` wheel complementary to the contour of the grooves. The wheel comprises a central body portion 36 having a pair of oppositely disposed knurled projections or anges 38.

` The lower portion of the housing 2-is pro-- vided with an aperture 4|] through which extends a shaft 42. The extreme lower end of the housing is providedwith threads 44 for receiving anV aperturedcage 46 in which is encased a helical spring 4 8. The shaft extends from the aperture 48 through andbelow the aper-tured cage 46, it

being-.understood that the spring 48 surrounds the shaft 42. The shaft is provided with an annular flange 5D, which in one position of the shaft The upper end of the shaft is threaded to receive a. nut 52 limiting the downward movement of the shaft 42, aswell as forming a support for the body portion 35 ofthe wheel 32 when in an inoperative position. The' lower portion of the shaft 42 is cut away to form recesses 54 in which is anchored a pin 56. A latch member 58 is pivotably secured to the pin 56. A small helical spring 68 is disposed between -the latch member and the inner face of the recess 54 for urging the latch 58 into an inoperative position. The latch member is provided with a shoulder portion 62, which in operativeposition abuts against the lower face of cage 46 for restraining upward axial movement of the shaft 42. It Will be apparent from this construction that any possibility of drag yby the perforator is eliminated during the loweringv or removal operation.

A floating or loosely mounted collar 64 .is disposed-on the lowerend of. the shaft 42, and is held thereon by a nut 66 secured to the shaft.

Operation In operation the perforator is set as shown in Fig. 1, and-lowered into the well hole to any desired elevation in order to perforate the casing. Reciprocation of the cable will cause a reciprocal thrust of the jarring tools with a-complementary reciprocation of the housing I2 whereupon the floating collar 64 is moved axially upward to contact the abutting portion ofthe latch and disconnect the latch 58 from its abutting position with the lowerface of the-cage 43. With the latch in inoperative position, the tension spring 43 thr ough the medium of flange 50 moves the shaftv 42 rapidly upward with a simultaneous upward movement of the knurled wheel 32. During the'lowering of the perforator, the wheel is supported by the nut 52, and due to the contour of cam like grooves 22 and 24, the wheel is positioned out of contact with the inner periphery of thefcasing 2. With upward movement of the shaft 42 and knurled wheel 32, the contour of the central portion of grooves 22 and 24 positions the knurled flanges 38 into biting engagement with the `inner periphery of the casing 2 for setting thewperforator in the hole. It will be apparent that one face of the cam 28 is substantially complementary to the contour of the grooves 22 and 24 to assist the positioning of the wheel 32. Continued reciprocating thrusts of the jarring tools forces the perforator housing I2 downwardly withv a simultaneous rotation of the wheel due to the engagement with casing 2, whereupon the knife 20 is moved downward into Contact with the portion 36 of the Wheel and is swung into cutting position as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In this position the knife is bearing against the casing 2, and a continued jarring action causes the knife to pivot about -the pin I8 and perforate an axial slot in the casing, cement or the like. The downward jarring action to move the knife 20 through the casing simultaneously moves the wheel 32 into the position shown in Fig. 3 out of contact with the casing.

The disposition of the pin I8 in the small recess I6 allows all downward thrusts or jarring action to be received by the housing I2 rather than the pin I8. vDuring perforation of the casing by thel knife 28 the wheel is ypositioned out of biting engagement with the casingV 2, as shown in Fig. 3.`

Release of the knife 20 is affected by an upward pull of cable 4 which again brings the wheel 32,

positioning of the wheel. .Howeven the spring 48 is of Y.sufficient strength to prevent re-setting of the latch 58. Also the spring 60 assistsin holding the latch inv inoperative position. latch 58 can not -be re-set'without pulling the perforator fromthe well hole, and it will be ap..

parent from the above description that the per- The forator can not be utilized-for perforating the,

casing at a point lower than the original settingY position without re-setting the latch. However,

the -perforator can be lutilized for cutting fthe,j casing as often as it is desired at elevations above'- the original setting position without pulling thek perforator from the hole. When it is desired to again perforate the casingthe operation pre-f viously described is repeated. A Y. Y

, From the foregoing it will be apparent that thisinvention provides a casing perforatorwhich is simple in construction, wherein the perforator can be easily lowered into well holes having" small or disaligned casings due to the utilization of the trip assemblypreventing any drag-ofthe perfcratcr in the lowering operation. Furthermore, the knurled wheel for actuating the knife (provides a positive and yrolling contact to assure an efcient pivoting of the knife forperforating the casing.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore'setforth in .the specification and shown in the drawings, it

being understood that any modification` `in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

V1.In a perforator adapted to be lo-wered into, a well casing comprising a longitudinally` recessed body portion, a knife-pivotably mounted in therecess, cam grooves formed'in the recessfsaid grooves comprising inclined end portions and a vertical central portion, a wheel mounted-cn a shaft disposed in the grooves, means carried by the body portion for moving the wheel from the lower inclined -lp'ortion to the vertical portion whereby `said wheellis positioned` in biting engage'm'ent with the innerl periphery of the casing for actuating the knife. f

2; In a` perforator `adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprisinga longitudinally recessed body portion, a knife pivotably mounted in the reoess,cam vgroovesforined in the recess, said grooves comprising' inclined` end portions and avertical central portion; a wheel mounted on a shaft disposed in the grooves, means carried by the body portion for moving the wheel from the lower inclined portion to the vertical portion whereby said wheel is positioned in biting engagement`vviththe` inner periphery of the casing for' actuating vthe knife, and cam means disposed in the recess-and cooperating with the grooves for positioning the wheel.

3L In a .perforator adapted to be lowered into I a Well casing comprising a longitudinally recessed body portion, a knife pivotably mounted in the recess, cam `grooves formed in the recess, said grooves comprisinginclined end portions and a central vertical portion, a knurled wheel mounted on a shaft disposed in the grooves, means carried by the body portion for moving the wheel from a lower inclined portion to the vertical portion whereby said wheel is positioned in biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing for setting the perforator, said wheel in set position adapted to `be rotated into contact with the knife upon a downward movement of the body portion.

4. In a perforator adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising a longitudinally recessed body portion, a knife pivotably mounted in the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess, said grooves comprising inclined end portions and a central vertical portion, a knurled wheel mounted on a shaft disposed in the grooves, means carried by the body portion for moving the wheel from a lower inclined portion to the vertical portion whereby said wheel ispositioned in biting engagement withv the inner periphery of the casing for setting the perforator, said wheel in set position adapted to be rotated into contact with the knife upon a downward movement of the body portion, and cam means disposed in the recessgrooves for positioning and cooperating with th the wheel.

5. In a perforator adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising a body portion having a longitudinal recess, a knife pivotably mounted in the recess, cam `grooves formed in the recess, a knife actuating wheel mounted on a floating stud disposed in the cam grooves, means slidably mounted on the body portion for moving the wheel into biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, said wheel rotatable along the Vgrooves in response to ar downward movement of the body portion for moving the knife into contact With the casing.

6. In a perforator adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising a body portion having a longitudinal recess, a knife pivotably mounted in the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess, a knife actuating wheel mounted on a floating stud disposed in the cam grooves, means slidably mounted on the body portion for moving the wheel into biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, said wheel rotatable along the grooves in response to a Adownward movement of the body portion for moving the knife into Contact with the casing, said grooves formed with an upper inclined portion for positioning the wheel out of contact with the casing during the perforation thereof.

i '7.'In combination with a perforator adapted tobe lowered in a well hole, alongitudinally` recessed body portion, jarring tools disposed above l the body portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in an upper portion of the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess, a knurled wheel mounted on the movable stud disposed in the grooves, means responsive to a jarring actionofthe tools for moving the'wheel along the camv grooves into biting engagement with the inner periphery ofthe casing,v said wheel in biting engagement adapted to be rotated along the grooves in response `to a jarringxaction providing downwardmovement of the body portion'for moving the cutter into engagement with: the casing.

8. `In combination with a perforator adapted to be lowered .in vawell hole, .a longitudinally recessed body portion, jarringtools disposed above thebody portion, a cutterpivotably mounted in an upper portion of the recess, cam` grooves formed in the'recess, a knurled wheel mounted on the movable stud disposed in the grooves, means responsive to a jarring action of the tools for moving the wheelalong the cam grooves into 4biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, said wheel4 in biting engagement adapted to be rotated alongthe grooves in' response to a jarring action providing downward movement of the body portion for moving the cutter into engagement with the casing, and a cam body dis- V posed in the recess and cooperating with the grooves for positioning the wheel.

9. In a perforator adapted tobe lowered in a well casing comprising a longitudinally recessed body portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess below the cutter, a cutter actuating wheel mounted on a stud slidably disposed in the cam grooves, a slidable shaft mounted in the body portion for vmoving the wheel along the cam grooves intobiting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, pivotable latch means restraining movement of the slidable shaft during lowering of the perforator in the casing, a oating collar disposed on the shaft for releasing the latch means, and spring means for moving the shaft rapidly upward upon release of the latch means.

10. In a perforator adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising a longitudinally recessed body. portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess below the cutter, a cutter actuating wheel mounted on a stud slidably disposed in the cam grooves, means slidably mounted in the body kportion for moving the wheel along the cam grooves into biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, means restraining movement of the slidable means during lowering of the perforator, floating means disposed on the slidable means for releasing the restraining means, and means for moving the slidable means rapidly upward upon release thereof.

11. In combination with a perforator adapted to be lowered into a well casing, a cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal recess, jarring tools disposed above the body portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in the recess, cam grooves formed in the recess below the cutter, a cutter actuating wheel mounted on a stud slidably disposed in the cam grooves, knurled flanges provided on the wheel, a slidable shaft mounted in the body. portion for moving the flanges of the' to be lowered in `a well casing, a cylindrical bodyportion having a longitudinal recess,1jarring tools disposed above the body portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in the recess, grooves formed in the recess below the cutter, said grooves comprising inclined endportions and a vertical central portion, a cam provided in the recess and having one face complementary with the contour of the grooves, a cutter aci'luatingwheelV mounted on a stud slidably disposed in the grooves, knurled flanges provided on the wheel, a slidable shaft mounted in the body portion for4 moving the flanges of the wheel into biting engagementn with the casing, a pivotable latch carried by the shaft and adapted to contact the lower portion of the body for restraining movement of the shaft during lowering ofthe perforator, a floating collar disposed on the shaft and responsive to a jarring action for releasing the latch, sprin-g means for moving the shaft rapidly upward upon release of the latch whereby said wheel ismoved along the grooves into biting engagement with thev inner' periphery of the casing.

13. `In combination with a perforator adapted to be lowered in a well casing, a cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal recess, jarring tools disposed above the body portion, a cutter pivotably mounted in the recess, grooves formed in the recess below the cutter, said grooves comprising inclinedend portions and a vertical central portion, a cam provided in the recess and having one 'face complementary with': the contour of the grooves, a cutter actuating wheel mounted on a stud slidably disposed in the grooves, knurled flanges provided on the wheel, a slidable shaft mounted in the body portion for moving the flanges of the wheel into biting engagement with the casing, a pivotable latch carried by the shaft and adapted to contact the lower portion of the lbody for restraining movement of the shaft during lowering of the perforator, a oating collar disposed on the shaft and responsive -to a jarring action fory releasing the latch, spring means for moving the shaft rapidly upward upon release of the latch whereby said wheelis moved along the grooves into biting engagement with the inner periphery of the casing, said wheel in engaged position adapted to be rotated along the grooves in response to downward movement of the body portion for moving the cutter into Contact with the casing.

. WILLIAM BENDELER.

CLIFFORD HOWARD. 

